USDA Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research

Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center—a USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility proudly located in Booneville, Arkansas, and dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture for small and medium-sized farms across the region. Situated on 2,214 acres at 6883 South State Highway 23, our center conducts innovative, science-based research to develop technologies and practices that enhance profitability, reduce inputs, conserve natural resources, and improve environmental quality for small farm producers in rural Arkansas and beyond.

We serve Booneville—a historic community founded around 1828 as one of the oldest towns in western Arkansas, originally settled near the Petit Jean River in the Arkansas River Valley and now home to approximately 3,800 people. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Magazine State Park—the state's highest point at 2,753 feet—and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ouachita Mountains, our town offers a peaceful rural lifestyle enriched by outdoor recreation, family farms, small businesses, local schools, healthcare facilities, churches, youth programs, and community events. In this setting, where unpredictable weather, winding rural roads, agricultural operations, and the everyday challenges of small-scale farming shape daily life, a dedicated research center like ours is essential for providing practical solutions—such as better parasite management in livestock, sustainable foraging strategies, agroforestry integration, and precision farming tools—that help local farmers increase efficiency, lower costs, protect the environment, and build more resilient operations close to home.

The Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center specializes in targeted, multi-disciplinary research programs tailored to the needs of small farms in the Southeast and Arkansas:

• Small Ruminant Research (Sheep and Goats): Developing strategies to reduce parasite loads (alternatives to synthetic dewormers like copper oxide wire particles, nutrient-rich forages, condensed tannins, grazing management, and genetic selection for parasite-resistant animals); improving nutrition, genetics, and overall health for more profitable and sustainable production.
• Livestock Foraging and Organic Systems: Creating foraging strategies for livestock, including organic production methods; researching management approaches for beef cattle that minimize inputs while maximizing output; studying watershed impacts of forage practices on soils, water quality, and erosion.
• Agroforestry and Sustainable Manure Management: Integrating agroforestry systems (e.g., alley cropping with pine plantations, pine straw production, and ecosystem services); developing sustainable manure application techniques (like the patented ARS Subsurfer for subsurface poultry litter placement to reduce nutrient runoff by over 90%, minimize odor, and improve soil health and crop yields).
• On-Farm Precision Management: Using technology to optimize land, crop, and animal management for small farmers with limited resources—helping with decision-making, resource efficiency, and profitability.
• Broader Sustainable Practices: Long-term studies on grazing management, buffer strips, and nutrient runoff; collaborations with federal, state, and private partners to transfer knowledge through publications, demonstrations, and outreach.

The benefits of the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center for Booneville and South Logan County include:

• Practical, Science-Backed Solutions: Research directly addresses real challenges faced by local small farmers—such as parasite resistance in sheep/goats, sustainable manure use (especially poultry litter common in Arkansas), and integrating trees with livestock or crops for diversified income and environmental protection.
• Local Impact and Accessibility: As a Booneville-based facility, we support our community's agricultural heritage by providing technologies that reduce costs, improve animal health, enhance soil and water quality, and promote sustainable practices suited to rural, small-scale operations.
• Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer: A multi-disciplinary team of ARS scientists works with cooperators nationwide to deliver results through workshops, field days, publications, and partnerships—helping farmers adopt innovations that boost profitability and resilience.
• Environmental Stewardship: Emphasis on reducing inputs, preventing runoff, and conserving resources aligns with preserving the natural beauty and productivity of the Ouachita foothills and Arkansas River Valley.

Our center is open for inquiries and collaboration: contact us at (479) 675-3834 (phone) or fax 479-675-2940. Visit our website at www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/booneville-ar/dale-bumpers-small-farms-research-center/ for research updates, publications, staff contacts, and more. We're located at 6883 South State Highway 23, Booneville, AR 72927—feel free to reach out for information on our programs, tours, or how our research can benefit your farm or operation.

Advancing small farms in Booneville is at the heart of our work—because when local producers have the tools, knowledge, and innovations to succeed sustainably, our rural community grows stronger, more prosperous, and better connected to the land under these Ouachita skies. We're proud to serve South Logan County—let's work together for a brighter agricultural future!

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